Chronicles of Logos Quest For the Kingdom Parts IV, V, VI, and VII Revised With Index (Quest For the Kingdom Set) by L. M. Roth Read Free Book Online Page A

distant to his own ears.
    Urbanus looked
at him with eyes wide in disbelief. For a very long moment he looked at Marcus
as if seeing him for the first time. Then he slowly shook his head.
    “And what of
your allegiance to your Emperor, eh? What about your allegiance to your old
friend, he who restored your estates to you after they had been taken by my
cousin Aurora? Does that mean nothing to you?”
    Marcus could
have wept, as he felt torn between his faith and his friend. Yet he gave to
Urbanus the only answer possible to him.
    “Believe me
when I tell you how grateful I am for your favor, and how thankful for your
friendship. It is something I treasure dearly. Yet the Kingdom of Heaven is not
an earthly rival for power to Valerium. It is a state of heart that submits to
the rule of Dominio and obeys His holy laws and surrenders the desires of the
flesh to His Spirit. It is not a kingdom that you need fear, my gracious lord
and old friend.”
    Marcus hoped
that would suffice, but even as he finished speaking he saw in the eyes of
Urbanus what his response would be.
    Urbanus paused
a moment as though reluctant to proceed, then exhaled slowly.
    “My good
Marcus,” he began, “in view of our long friendship and the regard I hold you
and your family in, I wish I could leave this matter alone. But I have been
informed that your entire sect believes this, and that they pledge themselves
to a power that they hold to be superior to the Valeriun Empire. Is this true?”
    Marcus was
usually poised and in control of his emotions, but the accusation caught him
off guard and he found himself sputtering for the right words to appease his
friend.
    “Well, yes, in
a way they do,” he finally managed to speak. “That is they, and I, vow to serve
Dominio, the One true God, and pledge our lives in service to Him.”
    “Ah ha!”
Urbanus pounced on the words. “Then they do pledge allegiance to a
greater power than the Valeriun Empire! That, Marcus, is treasonous, and will
not be tolerated. I have allowed you to meet openly, but no more. You will cease
such seditious talk or find yourselves in disfavor with the Empire. And its
ruler!”
    And with an
imperial flick of his hand he dismissed his old friend from his presence.
     
    Marcus walked
into his villa with the staggering stride of one who is drunk or walks in his
sleep. Tullia stood waiting for him in the atrium, and saw in an instant the
outcome of the interview. She did not ask him questions, but put her arm threw
his and raised his hand to her lips to kiss it. Then she snuggled against his
shoulder in the gesture that always blessed his heart, so intimate and
confiding was it.
    “It is
Iacomus,” he finally spoke. “Just as Felicia warned. Who is he, and why is he
here?”
    And Tullia
looked into his eyes with the despairing gaze of one who has asked the same
question, and has no answer to give.
     
    The
Alexandrians were assembled in the Maximus library. Marcus noted that Iacomus
was not among them this week, confirming the dreaded suspicion that gnawed at
his heart. This man had come in among them as a false believer, even as their
mentor Xenon had warned them against so many years ago. Like a wolf, one who
claimed to belong to Alexandros, yet was not of His spirit. And who desires
power above all else…
    He was just
about to share with them the news of his interview with Emperor Urbanus, when
the doors to the library were suddenly thrown open. Armed Guards from the Imperial
Palace stood with spears thrust outward.
    “Cease and
desist at once!” their Captain shouted.
    He withdrew a
scroll from the folds of his cloak and whipped it out. In a piercing voice that
stabbed Marcus with every word he read:
    “By the royal
decree of His Imperial Highness Emperor Urbanus of the Empire of Valerium, the
sect known as Alexandrians is forbidden to assemble in the environs of the
Empire. They are to renounce their allegiance to any kingdom other than the
Valeriun Empire. Any found